Pulp-molding machine



Oct. 8, 1929. MJP. cHAPLlN PULP vMOLDING'.MACHINE Filed March 14, 1928 Patented Oct. 8, 1929 incase olmos MERLE P. CHAPLIN, OF WATERVILLE, MAINE, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T FIDELITY TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE,A OF PORTLAND, MAME, A CORPORATION OF MAINE PULP-MOLDING MACHINE Application filed March 14, 1928. A, Serial No. 261,437.

' pearance. Also, pulps ofdi'erent colors and strengths can be combined.

Such multi-layer articles can be formed by passing the forming dies from one pulp solution to another solution or other solutions. When the dies are so manipulated it is most desirable that the different solutions should not be permitted to intermix. For instance, in case a more expensive material is used in one solution than in another, as

might be the case for the lining or inside sur.-

lution from passing from one compartment' to another compartment having a cheaper grade of material therein.

It is also essential, in case materials of different colors or diiierent constituents are being used in adjacent compartments or so-A lutions, to prevent the darker colored or cheaper grade of material from intermixing with the lighter or higher grade of material, since any material intermixing of these two grades will aect the quality of the artlcle produced.

It is also essential to prevent intermixing of the different solutions or the passing of one solution from its compartment'into the adjoining compartment when the inside of the article has been so treated as to render it impervious to liquids or solids, whereas the material in the center of the article or on the back of the article has not been so treated. It is obvious that if any appreciable amount of the untreated material is intermixed with the solution in the tank of treated material that thetreatment of the material to render ithifnpervious to liquids will be to thisextent rendered ineffective.

With the above conditions and problems in mind this invention has for its salient obmaking multi-layer pulp articles so constructed and arranged 4that'the dies in passingv through successive compartments, tanks or v ats, will not cause the solutions in the respective compartments, tanks or vats to intermix.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connnection with the drawings, which form a part of this application, and in which Fig. l is an elevational view somewhat diagrammatic showing apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing oneJ of the dies, a ortion of the die carrier, and

a portionof t e partition and surrounding parts through which thedieand carrier pass from one compartment to another;

Fig. 3 is da sectional elevation taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4c is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a `slightly modified form of die support; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken at right angles to'Fig. 4. y

The invention briefly described consists of a machine orapparatus comprising a. carrier having a plurality of forming dies thereon to which is connected suitable suction means for sucking the pulp on the dies as they pass through the various solutions, and Va tank or vat having a plurality of compartments, each compartment having a 4solution therein possessing the desired characteristics. The compartments are formed by partitions having openings therein to permit the passage of the dies and a portion of the carrier therethrough and in order to effectively prevent the intermixing of the solutions in they arious compartments each partition has formed thereon walls which in turn form a trough through which the dies and adjacent portions of the carrier pass. Since the dies in passing through the trough have only a limited amount of pulp Vsolution-surrounding them, the suction through the dies causes the major part' of l the pulp solution available in the trough,to be deposited on the dies.

Further details of the invention will appear from the following description.

Any desired form of die and die carrier lUU can be utilized and in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive there is shown a die carrier 10 mounted to rotate on a shaft 11 and having a plurality of dies 12 mounted on the periphery thereof. The dies `12 are connected by conduits 15 to a hub 16, which isV-in turn connected through suitable valve means to a source of suction 'so controlled that when the dies pass through the tank or vat suction Will be created on the perforated die faces 18, thus causing the pulp so dimensioned as to permit the passage of the dies and adjacent portions of the side Walls of faces 19 and 20 of the carrier therethrough. n

Each partition also has formed thereon at the margins or borders of the opening, laterally extending side Walls 31 and 32 and a bottom Wall or shelf 33 which is connected tothe side Walls. The side Walls and bottom Wall, as shown in Fig. 2, and the opening 30, are so dimensioned as to permit the passage of the dies and adjoining portions of the carrier therethrough with a slight clearance. The side Walls 9 and shelf or bottom form in effect a pocket or trough through which the dies and adjacent portions of the carrier pass in moving from one compartmentinto the next compartment. It will be obvious that inasmuch as there is a suction through the perforated die faces 18 during their passage through the pocket or trough and the amount of solution in the .pocket or trough is limited, that the major part of the solution present in the trough will be sucked onto and deposited 'on the die prior to the movement of the die into the next succeeding compartment. Furthermore, any of thesolution in compartment B, for instance, that tends to pass into compartment A, would intermingle With the solution iowin-g into the trough from compartment A, thus providing an interfelt-innf of the pulps from adjacent compartments. rllhis mixture of pulps Will then be sucked onto the next succeeding die.

As a further means for'preventing the intermixing of the solutions in the various comartments, sealing means is provided in the orm of iiexible strips 35 and 36 carried by the partitions and positioned to engage the faces 19 and 20 of the carrier. This construction is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

Itwill be understood that the carrier 10 is continuously rotated and that the passage of the dies through the various solutions and compartments is uninterrupted. The sealing means and the provision of the troughs or pockets effectively prevent the carrier and dies from carrying with them compartment A into compartment B, the solution from compartment A and the corresponding pocket or trough on the partition 27 also prevent the intermiXing of the solutions in compartments B andC. Any slight amount of the material from compartment B that passes into the pocket or trough on partition 27 is deposited on the dies as they pass through the pocket and, furthermore, assures the complete interfelting and interlocking of the materials from the two solutions in the molded article.

As a further means to counteract the tendency of the solutions to folloW the movement of the dies and carrier, the levels of the solutions in the compartments A, B and C maybe varied. as shown in Fig. 1. The desired levels can be maintained in any suitable manner, as by float valves.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a slightly modified form of carrier is illustrated in Which the side Walls or faces 40 and 41 of the carrier are spaced farther apart to be disposed adjacent the peripheral portions of the carrier, enclosing the dies 12. In order to permit the passage of the peripheral portion of the carrier, the side Walls 42l and 43 of the pocket or trough are correspondingly spaced apart. Sealing strips 45 and 46 are secured to the partition and engage the Walls 40 and 41. f

It Will be obvious that the structure shown in Figs. 4 and 5 will operate in substantially the same manner as that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 and Will effectively prevent the intermixing of the various solutions through Which the dies are passed.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

What I cla-im is:

11 1. Apparatus for formlng multl-layer articles from pulp or like material comprising a carrier, forming dies thereon, a vat having a partition forming compartments, said partition having an opening permitting the .passage of forming dies therethrough, and sealing means for preventing the passage of pulp or like material from one compartment to another compartment. l

2. Apparatus for forming multi-layer articles from pulp or like material comprising a carrier, forming dies thereon, a vat having a partition forming compartments, said partition having an opening permitting the passage of forming dies therethrough, and seal- 'preventing the passage of pulp or like material from one compartment to another compartment.

4. Apparatus for forming multi-layer E articles from pulp or like material comprising 4a carrier, forming dies thereon, a vat having a plurality of partitions forming compartments, said partitions havlng openings permitting the passage ofl forming dies therethrough, and sealing means carried by the partitions and bordering the openings therein for preventing the passage of pulp or like material from one compartment to another compartment. y

5. Apparatus forl forming multi-layer articles-from pulp or like material comprising a carrier, forming dies thereon, a vat having a partition forming compartments, said partition having van opening permitting the passa e of forming dies therethrough, and a troug on said partition leading to the opening therethrough and adapted to receive the dies prior to their passage-through the partition.

6. Ap aratus for forming multi-layer articles rom ulp or like material comprising a carrier, orming dies thereon, a vat hav-4 ing a plurality ofpartitions forming compartments, said partitions having openings permitting the passage of forming dies therethrough, and a trough on each partition leading to the openin therethrough and adapted to receive the iesprior to their passage through the, partitions, said-troughs being haped toclosely surround said carrier and ies. 7. Apparatus for 'forming multi-layer articles from pulp or like material comprising a carrier, forming dies thereon, a vat having a partition forming compartments,

Caid partition having an opening permitting the passage of forming dies therethrough, and a trough on each partition leading to the opening therethrough and adapted to receive the dies prior to their passage through the` partition, each trough having side walls and a bottom wall positioned slightly beyond thel path of movementof the dies and carrier.

8. Apparat-usv for forming multi-layer articles from'pulp or like material comprising a carrier, forming dies thereon, a vat having a partition forming compartments,

'said' partition having an opening permitting the passage of forming dies therethrough,

said partition having a ledge extending laterally therefrom and positioned slightly below the path of travel of said dies.

9. Apparatus for forming multi-layer articles from pulp or like material comprising a carrier, forming dies thereon, a vat having a plurality of partitions forming compartments', said partitions having openings permitting the passage of forming dies therethrough, each partition having an arcuate ledge extending laterally therefrom and positioned slightly below the path of travel of said dies, said ledge having a curvature substantially conforming to the arcuate path of travel of the dies.

10. Apparatus for forming multi-layer articles from pulp or like material comprising a carrier, forming dies thereon, a vat having a partition formingcompartments, said partition having an opening permitting the passage of forming dies therethrough, said partition having a ledge extending laterally therefrom and positioned slightly below the path of travel of said dies, said ledge having a curvature substantially conforming to the arcuate pathof travel of the dies.

11. Apparatus for forming multi-layer articles' comprising a plurality of intercommunicating compartments, each compartment having a pulp solution therein, dies movable through said compartments, and means intermediate said compartments providing for intermingling of the pulps from the compartments while the pulps are being deposited on the dies.

12. Apparatus for forming multi-layer articles comprising a plurality of intercommunicating compartments, each compartment having a pulp solution therein, dies movable through said compartments, and means` preventing the intermixing of the solutions of pulp in the compartments.

13. Apparatus for formingI multi-layer articles comprising a plurality of intercominunicating compartments, each compartment having a pulp solntion therein, dies movable through said compartments, and means disposed at the points of communication between the compartments for preventing the intermixing of the solutions of pulp in the compartments.

14. Apparat-us for forming multi-layer articles comprising ,a plurality of intercommunicating compartments, each compartment having a pulp solution therein, dies movable through said compartments, and. sealing means .for preventing the passage of pulp from one compartment into an adjacent compartment. l

15. Apparatus for forming multi-layer articles comprising a plurality of intercommunicating compartments, each compartment having a pulp solution therein, dies movable through said compartments, and

sealing means disposed at the points of communication between the compartments for preventing the passage of pulp frm` one compartment into an adjacent compartment.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set- 5 my handthis 5th day of March, 1928.

MERLE P. CHAPLIN. 

